Opiate Addiction Treatment & Rehab Los Angeles

Prescription Opiate Addiction

Opiate Addiction Treatment & Rehab Los Angeles Haven House has years of experience treating individuals who are struggling with opiate addiction at our rehab center. Whether it is a dependence on prescription opiate medications or heroin, the journey to recovery starts with a medically-managed opiate treatment program, coupled with therapeutic work with your clinical team. Our goal is to make this process as safe and comfortable as we can while your body adjusts to the changes from the opiate detox. We evaluate each person’s unique opioid dependence history and medical needs so that we can formulate the best course of treatment for you specifically.

Types of Opiates

All opiates are derived from chemicals found in the sap of an opium poppy. Hydrocodone, Oxcydodone and Fentanyl are some of the most common prescription drug derivatives. They are just as powerful and produce similar effects as natural opiates such as heroin, morphine, thebaine

The Risks of Opiate Addiction in The U.S.

In 2016, over 40% of drug related overdoses were the result of prescription based opioids. At a rate of over 100 opioid-related deaths per day, the United States population is especially at risk due to the prevalence of over prescription, and ease of access. Astonishingly, the U.S. accounts for 75% of the world’s prescription drug use.

How Do Opiates Lead to Drug Addiction?

From a practical perspective, opiates are used to relieve pain following surgery or when experiencing painful medical conditions. The problem is they produce feelings of euphoria and content that lead many people to ongoing substance abuse following their recommended course. When abused, they take hold of the body at a physiological level by binding to neurological receptors that feed the pleasure centers of the brain. This process makes it very easy to develop a physical addiction that sheer will power cannot overcome. The more you use opiates the more of a tolerance you build, which leads people to use increasingly higher doses in search of that original high. Users in this stage of addiction are at risk for overdosing. While they may not feel the as much of euphoric effects, the body can still only handle a finite amount of opiates at one time.

Any stage of opiate drug abuse is a cause for alarm, but when withdrawal symptoms begin to manifest, you are in life threatening territory and should seek out an opiate addiction treatment center.

Opiate Addiction Withdrawal Symptoms:

Depending on how serious your opiate addiction is, withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe. Withdrawal symptoms include nausea, muscle aches, depression, raised blood pressure, sweating, anxiety, chills, insomnia, diarrhea, cramping and chronic pain. Some of these symptoms can manifest right away, and some may crop up over time, but they are almost always the result of heavy use, followed by an abrupt stop. Withdrawal symptoms themselves are not life-threatening, though at times they may feel like it. Complications such as dehydration and loss of fluids due to withdrawal can however lead to death. Also, the depression associated with withdrawal can provoke suicidal thoughts. It is important to seek medically managed detox treatment for opiate withdrawal in order to relieve these symptoms safely and effectively.

Long Term Effects of Opiate Addiction

Prolonged use of opiates can cause severe damage to the body, some of which is irreversible. Some of the common long term effects include persistent nausea and vomiting, constipation, liver damage (most common when opiates are combined with acetaminophen), abdominal distention and bloating, and brain damage resulting from respiratory depression and subsequent hypoxia

Opiate addiction can also cause nerve damage in the brain that destroys the brain’s ability to produce natural pain killers like endorphins. When your body can’t fight pain by itself, a common response is turning to opiates as a supplement.

Signs of Addiction

If you’re worried about yourself or someone you love, the major signs to look out for include persistent lethargy, borrowing money, reclusion, excessive sleeping, fluctuating weight, and hanging out in new social circles. If you are someone you know is exhibiting these signs it may be time to look into opiate addiction drug rehab.

Treatment Options

Finding a professional treatment for opiate addiction is the first step to recovery. Everyone’s addiction is different and is often hinged on specific details of an individual’s life or economic situation. That’s why opiate addiction treatment centers like us offer multiple different programs that cater to your specific needs. Whether you require round the clock residential treatment with an intimate environment or an intensive outpatient program to maintain your sobriety, our opiate treatment programs can help you.

The opiate epidemic has been steadily growing over the past 15 years. Recognizing the problem and seeking treatment for opiate addiction is the best way to fight back against this disease. We will be with you and help every step of the way.